Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Lined Sequin Clutch With Zipper: a tutorial

As promised, I've created a tutorial for the clutch that matches this skirt. I honestly love these bags. They really help to dress up an outfit. I've taken them out with me twice now, both black and gold, and have gotten so many compliments. It's even more fun to surprise people by telling them I made it. I also love that there is plenty of room for all of my essentials.

Of course, if sequins aren't your thing you can use this tutorial to make any zippered, lined pouch. I'd recommend a quilting cotton or any no-stretch fabric. You can also change up the dimensions to any size to fit your needs.

Materials:

1/4 yd + Sequin/Outer Fabric (use a no-stretch fabric if possible)

1/4 yd + Lining Fabric

One 9"+ Zipper

Let's talk about the zipper. I chose a more expensive black/gold zipper (Hobby Lobby) to up the style factor. These heavy-duty metal zippers are a little harder to work with than your average zipper. If you're not careful you could break a needle or two trying to sew through the teeth. I'll give you my tips on avoiding that a little later.

Do you need a zipper foot for this tutorial?

No. If you have one or are planning on buying one anyways then yes, but otherwise you really can get away without it. The trick is to buy a zipper that's too big. You really only need a 9" zipper for this tutorial, but if you're working without a zipper foot you'll want to go up to a 14". They just so happen to be the same price in this case.

Using a too big zipper means that the zipper tab won't get in the way of your presser foot, making it much easier to sew with. In the following tutorial I've used a too big (14") zipper without a zipper foot.

Cut two lining pieces and two outer fabric pieces to the dimensions of 11.5" x 9".

Sew with a 1/4" inseam.

Pin and sew with a 1/4 " inseam. Now you should have something like this:

Top stitching helps to keep the lining fabric from getting caught up in the zipper.

It's very important that you unzip the zipper a little over half way before going on to the next steps. Otherwise you won't have a way to turn your bag right side out.

With the zipper over halfway un-zipped, join the two sequin pieces, right sides together and the two lining pieces, right sides together. Pin in place and sew as shown. Make sure to leave a gap at the middle of the bottom edge of the lining so that you can turn the bag right side out.

This is the tough part about sewing with these heavy-duty metal zippers that I mentioned earlier. First of all, make sure that the zipper is bent toward your sequin/outer fabric when it goes through your machine.

When you get to this point where your needle is about to hit those metal teeth, stop the machine. Use the hand turn on your machine (turning towards you) to slowly make it through, past the teeth. If you get to a point where your needle will absolutely not make it through then pick up your presser foot and push the needle just past the difficult spot. Continue sewing as shown above.

Now you should have something like this:

Make sure the seams are nice and straight because they determine the shape of the bag. Snip out extra seam allowance and the corners as shown.

Snip the extra zipper off with heavy duty scissors or wire cutters.

Stick your hand through the gap in the lining bottom and pull the bag right side out. It's kind of like a magic trick (;

Poke out the corners of your outer fabric. Pin the gap in the lining closed.

If this all looks like a little too much for you, but you still love this clutch, come check out my Etsy shop. I've just listed 7 clutches (4 black, 3 gold). The gold are a bit more expensive because the material itself is very pricey.

Another thought I had, for those that may have a hard time finding the materials, is to sell "Make Your Own Clutch" kits. Of course these would be cheaper than the finished clutches. Please let me know if you'd be interested in purchasing something like this.

So Cute! I just used a tutorial to shorten a metal zipper. It is actually pretty easy to do and would definitely help in the "breaking needle" problem I CONSTANTLY get when trying to sew through the zippers. here it is: http://www.craftpassion.com/2011/06/how-to-shorten-metal-zipper.html

This is such an amazing tutorial. I've been attempting to become friends with my sewing machine and I have just the material for this project. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful information. I'm a Texas girl too and I've been following your blog for quite some time.

I just clicked over via FB and I just wanted to say that I love your new blog header! The calligraphy is so pretty. I'd love to know what program you used/how you made it! I just sorta re-designed mine, too. I love that we have a font in common (I used the same font as your sponsor title).

Anyway, just wanted to say your new blog design looks great (as always!).

And I just read your about page and never realized you're a college student studying to be an elementary school teacher. So am I! :)

I love this tutorial and omg you live in texas, so do I!!! Anyways, I love how simple you make this sound! I just saw your new blog design, and I love it, though I admit I will miss the old cute picture of that adorable fabric!

I love the clutch! It made me think of that Deux Lux weekender bag that was super popular this past spring... (this one: http://deuxlux.com/product/week/DL311-137P.html) I wonder if you could take a preexisting bag and make something similar to that bag. Any ideas? Or a tutorial? :D

Hi! this is the first time i see your blog and i'm totally in love with it!! Just like you i enjoy making my own clothes and showing everything in my blog but yours is grat beacuse you show the hole process.

ahh i love this, your awesome this is so great! i lovee your blog, it's wonderful, i'm so glad i just found it! i'm actually going to school in the fall to get my seamstress certification, and i am so excited, i'll be able to make cute things like this!!

Love this! I used it to sew a zip for the first time. I changed the dimensions and used much less fancy fabric since it was a test run. I still have a lot of practice to do, and still am happy with the result. I posted my version on my blog, linking back to this of course.